What's Done in the Dark

Chapter 44: Nicolette

"Come in," I yell running back to the girl's room. Tavia is crying and I don't want her to wake up Bella. Picking her up I breathe out a relieved breath. "Morning sleepyhead," I say right before I hear Bella start crying.

"Shit," I mumble.

"Good morning," Logan says stepping in the room.

"Morning," I say watching him walk over to Bella's bed. I sit in the rocker in the room and lift my shirt to breastfeed Tay.

"I bought you a piece of a steel pipe and put it by the door."

"A steel pipe?.... For What?" I ask frowning my face.

"You and the girls are here alone, you need a weapon if someone breaks in. I also think you should get an alarm system." He looks back at me as he changes Bella's diaper on the changing table. "I can call around and get you some quotes."

Sitting here I mull over his words. Since Deshawn is not here it may be a good idea to get an alarm. "That may be a good idea. I hadn't put much thought in it since Deshawn was here and I have Savage."

"Would you like me to call?" Logan asks as he lifts Bella off the changing table.

"Sure. If you don't mind."

"Well until then you can use the pipe as a weapon."

"I might kill somebody if I hit them with a pipe. I don't want to kill anybody," I say staring at him.

"Well if they come in here on you and the girls then they didn't want to live anyway. So move it to your room and put it in an easy to access place."

"Okay," I say twisting up my mouth in thought. "Could I hit somebody with a pipe?" I wonder to myself.

After feeding both girls and bathing them, Logan and I head to the park to let Savage run around. We haven't talked about what happened the other night. I've been scared to bring it up especially since he hasn't. I can tell he felt a little guilty.

I feel my phone vibrating and pull it out of my back jeans pocket.

"Hello," I say seeing it's Chris.

"Nicolette I'm sorry no one has called you yet, but Deshawn was shot last night."

Feeling my legs giving out on me. I reach over and grab Logan's arm as the shock of his words cause my legs to buckle. "SHOT!" I shout. I watch Logan's eyes snap to me in concern.

"Yes, he was shot in the neck. Over on Carver street. He's doing fine. The bullet grazed his neck but he lost a lot of blood."

"Oh, Lord. Where is he?"

"He's at Jefferson County Medical Center in room 225."

"I'm on my way. Thanks for calling me." I hang up and turn to Logan. "I have to get to the hospital."

"What's wrong?"

"Deshawn was shot last night. I need to get up there and see him," I say tears rolling down my face - still not being able to believe this.

"Is he ok?"

"Chris said he was shot in the neck and that he was fine, but he lost a lot of blood." Logan walks in the gate were the dogs are playing and call for Savage. Savage runs over and Logan reaches down and snaps his leash on.

We start walking back to the house and all I can think about is over the last few months we barely talked to each other. I never ask how he's doing or even what he's been up to. I start feeling like I can't breathe as I think of Tay losing her dad. I reach up and grab my chest taking deep breaths.